Improved gate-fastening



RICHMOND A. LEEDS, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMeRovED GATE-FAsTl-:NING- Specification forming part ol' Letters Patent No. 58,268, dated September 25, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R. A. LEEDS, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gate-Latches; aud I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specil the following detail description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying plate ot' drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a gate with my improved latch applied thereto; and Fig. 2, a transverse section taken in the plane of thel line w Fig. l.

Similar letters of" reference indicate like parts.

A in the drawings represents a gate, which is hinged to a post, B, so as to swing in a direction either inward or outward 5 C, the latch, which, in the present instance, consists of two similar sector-shaped plates, D D, eachhaving a handle or arm, E, and both hung eccentrically within a common casing, F, so that the handle of each will project upon opposite sides of the gate, the one upon the outside and the other' upon the inside, the two, by their inner corners, G, bearing against the common center cross-bar or partition, G, of

their casing; H, a catch secured to and projecting from the fence-post I in. 4proper position for the latches C to engage therewith, as plainly shown in the drawings, especially in Fig. 2, the two latches, when engaged with the said catch, preventing the gate from being swung either inward or outward, but allowing the same to be opened in either direction, according to the latch relieved therefrom, by pressing upon its handle or arm. The latches fall by their own weight or gravity, and by using two, as explained, it is plain to beseen that it is impossible for the gate to eyer swing through the fence, no matter whether closed from the outside or inside, as either one or the other of the two latches is in position for and forms a stop or bearing for the catch.

Froin the above description of my improved latch it is obvious that itis not only simple and cheap, but of a few parts, and quite effective and practical in operaiion-advantages of the utmost importance.

I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- A latch for gates, &c., consisting of the two sector-shaped plates D, hung eccentrically within a common casing or its equivalent, in combination with the fixed catch H, substantially as hereinv described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 11th day of April, 1866.

R. A. LEEDS. 

